Miner&#39;s safety acetylene lamp



Jan. 16, 1934. w. H. DARGUE MINERS SAFETY ACETYLENE LAMP Filed May 5,1935 .J'memau WILLIAM HENRY .DHRGUE,

Gui may Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES MINERS SAFETY ACETYLENELAMP William Henry Dargue, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England Application May5, 1933, Serial No. 669,511, and in Great Britain May 12, 1932 6 Claims.

This invention relates to miners safety acetylene lamps, and its primaryobject is to provide an improved construction wherein the flow of waterto the carbide chamber is controlled by the pressure of gas within thecarbide chamber acting in opposition to the pressure resulting from theeffective head of water. A further object of the invention is tomaintain a constant effective head of water until the greater part ofthe water has been used, thereby ensuring a uniform pressure of gas atthe burner during the whole or the greater part of the period duringwhich the lamp is in use. Another object of my invention is to regulatethe flame of the burner to enable the lamp to be adjusted for testingfor inflammable gas in a mine, and a further object is to relieveautomatically excess gas pressure in the carbide chamber in the event ofthe water valve and the gas regulating valve both being turned oif atthe same time.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of constructionand the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter fullydescribed and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which forms part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a lamp in accordance with myinvention;

Figure 2 is a plan thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Figure 4 is a plan section on the line 4--4 in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the specific form of my inventiondisclosed in the accompanying drawing, the numeral 10 designates thewater chamber, 11 the carbide chamber, 12 the burner, 13 the glasscylinder surrounding the burner, 14 the chimney, 15 the safety gauzewithin the chimney, and 16 the handle whereby the lamp is carried andsuspended.

The carbide chamber 11 comprises a cylinder 64 of sheet brass solderedto a ring 65 which forms the mouth of said chamber. At the bottom. thecarbide chamber is closed by a recessed cap 5'7, the flange 66 of whichis bent over to enclose the lower edge of the cylinder 64 and solderedthereto.

The metal cap 17, which is riveted to the inturned upper edge of thechimney 14, is lined with asbestos 18 to insulate the pin 19 by whichthe handle 16 is attached to the cap and minimize the transmission ofheat to the handle. The '.J lower edge of the chimney 14 and of thesafety gauze 15 are attached to the perforated gallery 20 as usual, andthe glass cylinder 13 is mounted between the gallery and a metal ring 21around the burner 12, packing rings 22 for the purpose of makinggastight joints being inserted between the cylinder 13 and the gallery,between the cylinder and the ring 21, and between the ring 21 and theflanged ring 23 which supports it. The ring23 is screwed in a flangedbase ring 24 which is screwed onto the outside of the ring 65 formingthe mouth of the carbide chamber. The base ring 24 is attached by rods25 to the gallery 20 as usual, said rods clamping the glass cylinder 13and the ring 21 in position.

The water chamber 10 comprises the upper portion of a hollow column 67of sheet brass projecting upwards from the carbide chamber 1i) behindthe chimney 14, and is separated from the carbide chamber 11 by apartition 26. A polished reflecting surface 27 is provided on the faceof the column 67 behind the glass 13. The water chamber is filledthrough an aperture 28 in its top 29 normally closed by an airtightscrew cap 30.

The fiow of water from the chamber 10 to the chamber 11 is regulated bya device comprising a tube 31 extending through the water chamber intothe carbide chamber, said tube communicating with the water chamber onlythrough an aperture 32 near its lower end. A depending flange 33 extendsbelow said aperture to prevent the passage of air or gas into the waterchamber 10. The lower end of the tube 31 is closed by a screw cap 34provided with a hollow stem 40, and its upper end is closed by a screwcap 35 in which is an air hole 36 through which the tube 31 is alwaysopen to the atmosphere.

Within the tube 31 is provided a valve comprising a cap 37 attached to aspindle 38 which is threaded at its upper end and passes through athreaded aperture in the cap 35 at the top of the tube beyond which itis fitted with a finger piece 39 whereby it can be rotated to raise andlower the cap. The cap 37 coacts with the hollow stem 40 in the lowerend of the tube and has a wire 41 which enters said stem to ensure adrip feed and provide means whereby its bore can be cleared ofobstruction.

It will be seen that, if the spindle 38 is screwed down to cause the cap3'7 to close the hol- 5 low stem 40, no water can pass from the tube 31into the carbide chamber 11. When however the cap is raised oif the topof the stem, the water in the tube 31 rises inside the cap above the topof the stem and passes down the stem into the 0 carbide chamberdecomposing the carbide therein and generating acetylene gas, the flowcontinuing until the pressure of gas generated in the chamber 11overcomes the pressure of the head of water tending to cause the flow.When the latter condition occurs, the water in the stem 40 and cap 37 isforced back by the gas, and further fiow of water is stopped until thegas pressure falls below the water pressure, the fiow of water to thechamber 11 being thus automatically cut oii when the quantity of gasgenerated exceeds the consumption, and resuming again when the gaspressure falls.

An air pipe 42 is provided in the top 29 of the water chamber, said pipeextending down into the chamber 10 as shown in Fig. 3. The object ofthis air pipe is to assure a uniform head of water in the tube 31, andthe operation is as follows:-- The chamber 10 is completely filled withwater through the aperture 28 which is then hermetically sealed by thecap 30. The water passes through the aperture 32 into the tube 31 andrises in said tube and also in the air pipe 42 to the level of the top.of the chamber 10. As both the tube 31 and the pipe 42 are open to theatmosphere, they form in effect the two upstanding members of a U-pipe,and fall of water level in one member instantly results in an equal fallin the other member. As the water drips out of the tube 31 through thehollow stem 40, the level of water in the tube 31 falls and there is acorresponding fall in the air pipe 42 until said water level reachesthat of the bottom of the pipe 42. Subsequently, any diminution of thewater level below the bottom of the pipe 42 allows air to pass from theair tube 42 into the water chamber 10, the water thereby displacedpassing through the aperture 32 into the tube 31 and maintaining thehead of water in saidv tube at the level of the bottom of the air pipe42 and so keeping the water pressure uniform in said tube, said waterpressure being equivalent to the height of the bottom of the air pipe 42above the top of the hollow stem 40. This constant water level ismaintained until the water level in the chamber 10 falls below thebottom of the air pipe 42 after which the water pressure gradually fallsuntil the water level falls below the level of the aperture 32. Ifdesired, the air pipe 42 can alternatively be provided in the cap 30.

The burner 12 is mounted in a boss 46 in the centre of a flanged cover47 screwed into the ring 65 forming the mouth of the carbide chamber 11,a packing ring 48 being interposed between the flange of said cover andthe rim of the ring 65 to make a tight joint. The burner communicateswith 2. depending tube 49 carried by the cover 47. A felt or like pad50' is mounted around the tube 49 immediately below the cover 47 to dryand purify the acetylene gas which, after passing through said pad,passes into the tube 49 by orifices 51.

The supply of gas to the burner 12 is controlled by a needle valve 52coacting with a valve seat 53 Within the tube 49, the spindle 54 ofsaidv valve extending. through a threaded aperture in the cap 55 of astuffing box 56 in the recessed bottom cap5'7 of the chamber 11 beyondwhich it is provided with a handle 58 whereby it can be rotated to raiseand lower the needle valve onto and from its seat.

To relieve excessive gas pressure generated in the carbide chamber 11 inthe event of the water valve 3'? and the gas regulating valve being bothturned off at the same time, I provide a relief tube 43 (Fig. 3) openingout of the top of the chamber and extending up through a tube 44depending into the water chamber 10 and carried by an air-tight screwcap 45 closing an aperture in the top 29 of the water chamber. The topof the tube 43 is above the top of the water chamber, and the tube 44extends almost to the partition 26 forming the bottom of the chamber 10.Excess pressure gas in the carbide chamber will force down the water inthe tube and will escape into the water chamber 10.

To charge the chamber 11 with carbide, its ring 65 is unscrewed from thebase ring 24 and its cover 47 is removed. Any suitable known lockingmeans are fitted to prevent unauthorized detachment of the carbidechamber from the base ring.

59 is a frictional igniting device operated by a spindle 60 which is agas-tight fit in a sleeve 62 which passes through the metal ring 21. Thespindle has a square end with which a square tube 63 fitted with a head61 can be engaged as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 so that rotation of saidhead rotates the spindle 60 and the igniting device 59. The tube 63 andhead 61 are removed from the square end of the spindle 60 as shown inFig. 4 when the carbide chamber 11 is to be unscrewed from the base ring24.

By my invention I provide an improved miners acetylene safety lamp whichcan be readily adjusted for testing for gas and will be found veryconvenient and accurate for that purpose. To adapt my lamp for testingfor gas, it is only necessary to reduce the flame of the burner 12 to asuitable degree by means of the needle valve 52. My improved lamp is ofstrong construction and will stand the shocks incidental to mining work.As the water supply to the carbide chamber is automatically regulatedand controlled, the lamp requires no more attention after the valve 3'7is turned on. The pressure of gas in the carbide chamber issubstantially uniform, but means are provided for relieving any abnormalaccumulation of pressure in the carbide chamber which may arise shouldthe needle valve 52 be closed at the same time as the valve 37.

While I have illustrated and described what I now consider to be thepreferred embodiment of my invention, it will nevertheless be understoodthat various changes or modifications of a more or less minor charactermay be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of myinvention, or the scope of the subjoined claims. For example, myimproved lamp may be of any required size, and may, if desired, bedesigned as a fixture.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A miners safety acetylene lamp comprising a carbide chamber, a burnermounted thereon, a sealed water chamber above said carbide chamber, atransparent casing surrounding said burner, a chimney above said casing,a safety gauze within said chimney, said transparent casing, chimney andgauze being supported in gastight connection by the carbide chamber, adepending tube in said water chamber extending into the carbide chamber,an air inlet at the upper end of said tube, an adjustable valve withinsaid tube, a water inlet near the bottom of said tube, a dependingflange over said Water inlet, and means for maintaining a constanteffective head of water in said tube until the greater part of the waterin the water chamber has been used,

comprising an air pipe depending from the top of the sealed waterchamber.

2. A miners safety acetylene lamp comprising a carbide chamber, a burnermounted thereon, a sealed water chamber above said carbide chamber, atransparent casing surrounding said burner, a chimney above said casing,a safety gauze Within said chimney, said transparent casing, chimney andgauze being supported in gastight connection by the carbide chamber, adepending tube in said water chamber extending into the carbide chamber,an air inlet at the upper end of said tube, an adjustable valve withinsaid tube, a water inlet near the bottom of said tube, a dependingflange over said water inlet, means for maintaining a constant effectivehead of water in said tube until the greater part of the water in thewater chamber has been used, comprising an air pipe depending from thetop of the sealed water chamber and means for regulating the flame ofthe burner.

3. A miners safety acetylene lamp compri ing a carbide chamber, a burnermounted thereon, a sealed water chamber above said carbide chamber, atransparent casing surrounding said burner, a chimney above said casing,a safety gauze within said chimney, said transparent casing, chimney andgauze being supported in gastight connection by the carbide chamber, adepending tube in said water chamber extending into the carbide chamber,an air inlet at the upper end of said tube, an adjustable valve withinsaid tube, a water inlet near the bottom of said tube, a dependingflange over said water inlet, means for maintaining a constant eifectivehead of water in said tube until the greater part of the water in thewater chamber has been used, comprising an air pipe depending from thetop of the sealed water chamber and means for regulating the flame ofthe burner, comprising a valve seat at the bottom of the burner, aneedle valve coacting with said valve seat and extending through thecarbide chamber, and an operating device below said chamber foradjusting said-valve.

4. A miners safety acetylene lamp comprising a carbide chamber, a burnermounted thereon, a sealed water chamber above said carbide chamber, atransparent casing surrounding said burner, a chimney above said casing,a safety gauze within said chimney, said transparent casing, chimney andgauze being supported in gastight connection by the carbide chamber, adepending tube in said water chamber extending into the carbide chamber,an air inlet at the upper end of said tube, an adjustable valve Withinsaid tube, a water inlet near the bottom of said tube, a dependingflange over said water inlet, means for maintaining a constant effectivehead of water in said tube until the greater part of the Water in thewater chamber has been used, comprising an air pipe depending from thetop of the sealed water chamber, means for regulating the flame of theburner, comprising a valve seat at the bottom of the burner, a needlevalve coacting with said valve seat and extending through the carbidechamber, an operating device below said chamber for adjusting saidvalve, and means for automatically relieving excess gas pressure in thecarbide chamber.

5. A miners safety acetylene lamp comprising a carbide chamber, a burnermounted thereon, a sealed water chamber above said carbide chamber, atransparent casing surrounding said burner, a chimney above said casing,a safety gauze within said chimney, said transparent casing, chimney andgauze being supported in gastight connection by the carbide chamber, adepending tube in said water chamber extending into the carbide chamber,an air inlet at the upper end of said tube, an adjustable valve withinsaid tube, a water inlet near the bottom of said tube, a dependingflange over said Water inlet, means for maintaining a constant effectivehead of water in said tube until the greater part of the water in thewater chamber has been used, comprising an air pipe depending from thetop of the sealed water chamber, means for regulating the flame of theburner, comprising a valve seat at the bottom of the burner, a needlevalve coacting with said valve seat and extending through the carbidechamber, an operating device below said chamber for adjusting saidvalve, and means for automatically relieving excess gas pressure in thecarbide chamber, comprising an upstanding tube opening out of the top ofthe carbide chamber and extending up through the water chamber, and adepending tube within the water chamber over said upstanding tube.

6. A miners safety acetylene lamp comprising a carbide chamber, a burnermounted thereon,

a sealed water chamber above said carbide chamber, a transparent casingsurrounding said burner, a chimney above said casing, a safety gauzewithin said chimney, said transparent casing, chimney and gauze beingsupported in gastight connection by the carbide chamber, a dependingtube in said water chamber extending into the carbide chamber, an airinlet at the up per end of said tube, an adjustable valve within saidtube, a water inlet near the bottom of said tube, a depending flangeover said water inlet, means for maintaining a constant effective headof water in said tube until the greater part of the water in the waterchamber has been used, comprising an air pipe depending from the top ofthe sealedwater chamber, means for regulating the flame of the burner,comprising a valve seat at the bottom of the burner, a needle valvecoacting with said valve seat and extending through the carbide chamber,an operating device below said chamber for adjusting said valve, meansfor automatically relieving excess gas pressure in the carbide chamber,comprising an upstanding tube opening out of the top of the carbidechamber and extending up through the water chamber, and a depending tubewithin the water chamber over said upstanding tube, a frictionaligniting device adjacent to said burner, and means for operating saiddevice from the exterior of the transparent casing surrounding theburner. 114

WILLIAM HENRY DARGUE.

